All posts by Randy Russon
Chitaroni has a flip side
It is destination unknown for Mason Chitaroni relative to the 2020-2021 hockey season. That is, the 15-year old defenseman with the world-class speed — he does not turn 16 until October 2 — could be playing in the Ontario Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, or for any one of four teams in the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League when the 2020-2021 campaign gets going.
…[read more]NOJHL is still a plus 11
One way of looking at it is, with the Elliot Lake Wildcats announcing a leave of absence for next season, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is down one team.
…[read more]Porco in the Nick of time
As dictated by the COVID-19 crisis, time is standing still in the hockey world. Still, as for time away from the hockey rink, Sault Ste. Marie product Nick Porco is putting it to good use.
…[read more]Coaching rerun in Kingston
It took the Kingston Frontenacs less than two weeks to fill their vacant head coach position. And it will be a familiar face manning the bench in Kingston when the next Ontario Hockey League season begins.
…[read more]Serre to skate for Laurentian
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s most valuable player has confirmed his commitment to play for the Laurentian Voyageurs of Ontario University Athletics come next season.
…[read more]Sting operation nets another
Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League has snagged a second American skater away from the Michigan State Spartans of the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association.
…[read more]Northern lights of the OHL
It has been said that hockey players from northern Ontario are, on average, overlooked when compared to those from the Greater Toronto Area and the southwestern and eastern parts of the province.
…[read more]Trying for an OHL tryout
Landon Deforge is not what one would call a big kid, standing in at 5-foot-8 and tipping the scales at 155 pounds. Nonetheless, the skilled, smart, speedy skater played a big role for the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League during the 2019-2020 season.
…[read more]Mason has Knight vision
He is working out on his own, in the family basement and in the garage. He jogs alone through his neighbourhood — and thinks of the season ahead. A 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft pick of the London Knights, Mason Chitaroni has a vision of where he wants to be when training camp opens.
…[read more]Nipissing knows the NOJHL
Nipissing Lakers of Ontario University Athletics have recruited two more high end skaters from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the North Bay school.
…[read more]Seca to manage the Sting
An educator with a long-time link to the Ontario Hockey League, Dylan Seca has been promoted to general manager of the Sarnia Sting.
…[read more]Frontenacs fire Foster
Kingston Frontenacs general manager Darren Keily has made head coach Kurtis Foster the fall guy for the failures of the Ontario Hockey League team over the past two seasons.
…[read more]Firebirds click top pick
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have confirmed the commitment of 2020 first round draft pick Gavin Hayes.
…[read more]Sarnia takes it to the Max
The third overall pick at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft has opted for the Sarnia Sting over the Michigan State Spartans of the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association.
…[read more]Toms training for next term
Plum, home grown prospect Connor Toms is running the local hub trails and working out in the basement gym of his family’s Sault Ste. Marie home as he preps for the next hockey season.
…[read more]Good times, good Knights
Sustained success of 18 successive winning seasons under the current ownership and operation of brothers Dale Hunter and Mark Hunter is the latest chapter of a good London Knights history.
…[read more]Jack Matier, social distancing
Social distancing and bans on group activity relative to the coronavirus pandemic has had an obvious effect on hockey players and teams.
…[read more]Self isolating, hockey writing
Many around the globe have left their office work stations to set up shop at home as a health precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic. But I was already ahead of the game as someone who has been working and writing from home for a number of years now.
…[read more]Rolling dice on NCAA recruits
Teams in the Ontario Hockey League have not been shy to use early to mid round draft picks on players who have already made verbal commitments to Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association schools.
…[read more]New gig for Michael Kantor
Hard-driven Michael Kantor, who played in more than 200 Ontario Hockey League games for Saginaw Spirit, Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves despite never being drafted, is turning to the business side of the game.
…[read more]Sault Major coaches
Head coaches have been selected for seven rep teams that will compete on behalf of the Sault Major Hockey Association for the 2020-2021 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Nickel Caps ‘D’ gets OHL nod
Defenseman Teegan Dumont from the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves of the Great North Midget Hockey League has been invited to the Ontario Hockey League training camp of the London Knights, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Very good, Ryan Vendramin
Simply stated, Ryan Vendramin of the Sault College Cougars had an American Collegiate Hockey Association season like no other in 2019-2020.
…[read more]OHL follower since 1972
I was still in school when the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves departed the Northern Ontario Hockey Association to join the Ontario Hockey Association — now known as the Ontario Hockey League — back in 1972.
…[read more]North country Knights
Soo Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves and North Bay Battalion are the northern teams of the Ontario Hockey League. But not to be outdone by geography, the powerhouse London Knights of southwestern Ontario have four skaters from northeastern Ontario in their system.
…[read more]Blind River Beavers, ’04-05
Wins were few and far between for small-market Blind River when the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League first set up shop in the little town of 3,500 back in 2000. In fact, it was not until the 2004-2005 campaign when coach Jim Capy arrived in Blind River via the Soo Thunderbirds that the Beavers had a winning season.
…[read more]Knights of the north
Ontario Hockey League powerhouse London Knights have gone to the often-overlooked Great North Midget Hockey League two years in a row now to take a player within the first five rounds of the annual priority selections draft.
…[read more]Steal of the Knights
Some projected him as a late third round pick. Others had him rated as an early fourth round selection who would not be available come the fifth round.
…[read more]OHL American draft?
Given the fact that 74 Americans were among the 300 players who were taken at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, an altering of the process might be something to consider.
…[read more]OHL draft rehash
D-day is done for another year. With the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft in the books, Hockey News North rehashes six picks who we deem notable.
…[read more]Jake Kovacs drafted
Bypassed at the 2019 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, the second time up proved to be a bonus for 2003 birth year forward Jake Kovacs.
…[read more]Devin Mauro drafted
Center Devin Mauro of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]What a Knight for Chitaroni
Mason Chitaroni said he was hoping the London Knights would draft him. And the Soo Jr. Greyhounds defenseman got his wish at today’s Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Mason Chitaroni drafted
A good day has turned into a good Knight. Slick defenseman Mason Chitaroni of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Connor Toms drafted
Standout defenseman Connor Toms of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Hounds pick slick pivot
Holding the fourth overall pick at today’s Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, the Soo Greyhounds made centre Bryce McConnell-Barker their first-round choice.
…[read more]Brkin workin’ for pro career
Simply put, Bailey Brkin has more than proven himself as a major junior goalie with winning numbers over two full seasons. In fact, he has done so in both the Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]OHL draft and Jr. Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League have no less than eight players with 2004 birth dates who are eligible for the upcoming 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Flashback: Glavota v. Parco
What are the chances that two hockey players from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario would face off on a world stage representing two countries other than Canada?
…[read more]Espanola to Laurentian
The best defenseman and first team all-star from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has committed to the Laurentian Voyageurs of Ontario University Athletics for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Blind River goalie to ACHA
Dominic Boily, who played two seasons in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, has a school commitment for the 2020-2021 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]NOJHL ’06-07 flashback
To this day, from this corner, the 2006-2007 edition of the now-defunct Soo Indians remains the most improbable of all Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champions.
…[read more]Oulahen to lead the Troops
North Bay Battalion has taken the interim tag off of Ryan Oulahen and given him a three-year contract to be the official head coach of the Ontario Hockey League team.
…[read more]Soo Eagles off to school
A pair of graduating forwards from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association commitments for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Best of the Great North
The eight-member Great North Midget Hockey League — which is comprised of six major midget teams and two minor midget entries — has confirmed its award winners for the 2019-2020 season.
…[read more]Toms is top minor midget
Defenseman Connor Toms of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League has been named the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s minor midget (2004 birth date) player of the year.
…[read more]OHL playoffs still possible
To the surprise of virtually no one, Ontario Hockey League commissioner David Branch has announced the conclusion of the 2019-2020 regular season — though leaving the door open for the possibility of the playoffs.
…[read more]Clancy steers the Express
It conveys a great deal about Dave Clancy that his peers voted him coach of the year in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League despite the fact that the Espanola Express posted a record well below the .500 mark.
…[read more]